I Win!

I entered a giveaway last week on Michele Maule's blog. 

She's an artist I very much admire. Lady Luck was with me, and I won this sweet print.

It arrived in the mail just the other day. Everything about this screams cute. 

Even the package Michele sent the print in was cute!

Not only did Michele send the print, but also included an adorable owl greeting card, and a personal note. 

If you haven't ever seen Michele's work, do pop over to her etsy shop. I adore basically everything she does, but am particularly taken by her vintage camera illustrations and her little houses.

 And her chairs......Of course I love her chairs!

I haven't made anything new in the studio this week, just lots of prep work for my first show of the year, which is less than a month away. Whoa....How did it get to be the middle of April already?

Ta-ta for now!

Finding the "Spark"

 
Hey there internet pals. How are you?

I spent my day working on this piece, and man, I'm glad that's over with! For the last few days, the work has not come easily. Every cut, paste and mark is a struggle. I'm constantly second guessing myself and I'm lacking the confidence that I normally possess in my creative process.

I'm not sure exactly how I got into this little artist funk, but I do know it will pass. I just need to give myself a little time, a little space...... Not be so hard on myself. And soon, I'll find that "spark" again.

So, friends, what do you do when you're in an artistic slump? Do you muscle through? Walk away? Seek inspiration? Where? Do share.

Ta-Ta for now.

* I was just about to post this entry, when I came across my artist/teacher buddy Tabatha Dougherty's blog entry for the day.  The work came easy to her today, and she's "sparking" in a big way! 

The Sibylline Still Life: Art Opening this Weekend

My friend and former teaching partner Jeanne Ludeke is having a solo show at JR Kortman Gallery, in Rockford. The exhibition titled “The Sibylline Still Life: A Return to Painting” opens Friday, June 4th.

After a long absence from painting, Jeanne wanted to polish up her painting skills. She spent the last nine months challenging herself to create a painting a day and blogging about it.

Preferring to work from life, she sets up and paints from small still lifes in her studio, that often feature delicious looking food! Every painting just gets better and better. Her eye for detail, design and color makes each piece so alive and inviting.

Inspired by Jeanne’s art, locally made gourmet cupcakes will be available at the opening. Caked is a brand new company that makes all sorts of exotic and delicious cupcakes like Red Velvet, Horchata and Smores! Recently I was able to taste the Almond Twist, an almond cake filled with pudding. Heavenly!!!

Jeanne's opening reception will be from 5:30 to 9:00pm on Friday, June 4th, upstairs in the Kortman Gallery at J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford.

Admission is free!

The show runs through July 15th.

For more information call 815/968-0123 or visit their website.